Unable to type apostrophes in Windows

Randomly one day, my keyboard just straight up stopped entering the apostrophe character. No real reason why, Windows gonna Windows I guess.

Anyway, after trying to clean the contacts, unplug and replug the keyboard, reboot, try another keyboard, I gathered it has to be something in software. I’m not one to shy away from remapping keys, but quitting my program also made no difference.

I eventually narrowed it down to it being assigned as a dead key used for shortcuts to swap between languages. The fix was mercifully pretty simple (once you know where to look).

• Windows + R
• intl.cpl
• Formats tab
• Language preferences link
• Language page
• Keyboard button in the top 5 icons
• Language bar options link
• Advanced Key Settings tab
• Change Key Sequence button
• Switch Input Language > Not Assigned
• Switch Keyboard Language > Not Assigned
• OK